With an interim Louisville coach in David Padgett, who replaced Hall of Famer Rick Pitino after he was fired amid the school’s FBI bribery investigation scandal, the Cards face difficult challenges in recruiting players.

“Right now, the biggest hurdle we have to clear from a recruiting standpoint is who’s going to be the head coach moving forward after this season,” Padgett, who is not guaranteed to be back next year, told the Courier-Journal. “And obviously we don’t know the answer to that.”

“Everyone understands the situation when we talk to recruits. They get it,” added Padget. “It’s just about us selling the brand, trying to lay the groundwork of Louisville basketball and what it will be moving forward.”

So Padgett tries to market the history of the program to potential commits.

“Regardless of who’s here, Louisville is still going to be Louisville,” said Padgett. “It’s been a tradition-rich, storied program for 30-40 years now.”

“We play in the most spectacular arena in the world. We have the best fan base in the world,” added Padgett. “It doesn’t matter who’s standing on the sidelines coaching the team because at the end of the day the name on the front of the jersey is still the name on the front.”

But the reality is until the Cards have a permanent coach, whether it’s Padgett or another big name like available ex-Indiana coach Tom Crean, Louisville will continue to struggle with recruiting.